Firearm



n, Nw mm .ul-Ilm" .r IllInI C. C. LOMIS FIRERM Filed 0G13. 5l, 195;!i

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JNVENTOR. Crawford C. Loomis BY @f if( TORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 10, 1935 FIREARM Crawford C. Loomis, Ilion, N. Y., assignorto Remington "Arms Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application-October 31,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to firearms, and contemplates an improvement in take-down mechanism for firearms of the repeating'type.

Repeating rearms, particularly shot guns, .are usually provided with a tubular magazine arranged below and substantially parallelwith the barrel, these magazines'being adapted to contain a column of cartridges which are delivered to the ring chamber one ata time by the use of suitable mechanism arranged in the-receiver. When the gun is taken down, that is when the barrel or barrel assembly is removed from the receiver and stock assembly, for greater convenience in carrying or shipment, the magazine tube may be removed from the receiver with the barrel, or it may remain iixed to the receiver, the barrel being detached therefrom. In the latter case a detachable connection must be provided between the forward end of themagazine tube and the barrel. This connection ordinarily takes the form of a lug rigidly-secured to and depending from the barrel at a position adjacent to the end of the magazine tube, the magazine tube and barrel lug being provided with cooperating fastening means which may be so arranged that the magazine is held in compression between the barrel lug and the receiver, and the section of the b-arrel between the receiver and the end of the magazine tubeis held in tension. It is very desirable that the securing device be such as to prevent any relative movement between the forward end of the magazine and the barrel. Any looseness at this point is annoying and may becomedangerous inasmuch as excessive looseness would permit a rotation of the barrel relative to the receiver. The usual fore-end securing .device or take-down joint comprises a threaded element'by the manipulation of which a magazine and'barrel lug joining member is advanced-to form-asecure connection. However, when the firearm is thus assembled, all the parts are at normal temperature, and if thereafter it is used rapidly and continuously, vas in trap shooting, the barrel becomes heated and its expansion loosens the take-down joint. The shooter may correct this looseness by further advancing the Vbarrel lug-and magazine joining member with the pensati-ng for temperature changesliduetorapid .1931, Serial No. 572,263

shooting or other causes, andA one which at all" .times maintains a satisfactorily rigid connection between barrel and magazine 4while being incapable otatv any time becoming set or subjecting its own mechanism or the magazinetube to-v 5 excessive strains.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side velevation of as muchv of a firearm as is necessary to showthe applicationof my invention thereto. v

Fig. 2is a fragmentary, central, sectional elevation of the fore-end part ofarearm embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section Vsubstantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. lis a transverse section substantially on the line -A of "Fig.r2.

For the purpose of illustration, the'- invention has been shown as applied to-a rearmof the type illustrated in Patent No. 1,834,410,issued;.20 .December 1, 1931.

The rearm comprises a Vbarrel 2l andamag- .azine tube 22, said tube y being rigidly A.secured Vin thereceiver .20, While the barrelis attached tothe receiver A2li vby means ofvanV interrupted` 25 thread and adapted for removal'therefrom by a 90 rotation when released from the forward- Vend ci the magazine tube. Rigidly secured tothe undersideof the barrel 2l is a barrel lug 23-fthe lower end of which is of reduced longitudinal 30 dimensions, as clearly-shown in Fig.2, and is aperturedto receive a stud 24 which may be held therein bya transverse pin glengagingJ an an- Vnular Agroove in the stud 24. The stud 2li comprises -a conical head n2M, bearing against the rearward face of the barrel lug-23, and may terminate ina cylindrical projection. 2&2. The for- -Ward end of the magazine tube 22 is closed'by parts including a magazine tubeplug 26, said plug comprising a transversely'extendingelongated aperturevfadaptedto receive an assembly pin 21, the plug being movable on said pinby reason of thev elongation of the pin-receiving aperture. Said Vplug 26 is exteriorly Y`threaded to receive a knurled and interiorly threadednut 45 `28 which is mounted for rotation, but not translation, with respect to the end of the magazine tube. Said nut is held from longitudinal or translational movement by the engagement with grooves therein of key members 29 which are 50 retained in slots formed in a'ller ring 3d which .iits within the end of the magazine tube surrounding the plug 26 and is rigidly held inA place byffassemblypn 21.

The parts thus far described are-substantiallyl 55 similar to those disclosed in my prior application before mentioned. In said application, however, the end of the magazine plug comprises a conical recess which directly engages the conical head of the barrel lug stud. It will be readily seen that if the barrel is expanded by the heating incident to continuous shooting and the magazine plug is thereafter advanced into close engagement with the barrel lug stud, subsequent cooling of the barrel will place the take-down mechanism under such excessive compression that manipulation of the plug retracting nut will be impossible. In the present construction, this difiiculty is obviated as follows:

The head 24| of the barrel lug stud is engaged by the recessed end of a iioating take-down piece 3| which is received in a longitudinal bore eX- tending throughout the magazine plug 2S. The forward end of said bore is of reduced diameter, and the diameter of the take-down piece is accordingly reduced. The enlarged diameter section of the take-down piece 3| comprises an elongated transversely extending aperture to re ceive the assembly pin 21, and said piece 3i may terminate a short distance to the rear of the assembly pin 21, or it may be provided with a projecting spring pilot 32, as shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe rearward end of the magazine plug bore, which may be somewhat enlarged, is arranged to receive and retain a suitable spring abutment such as a threaded screw 33 which may be provided with a spring pilot 34. A stiff spring 35 is compressed between the abutment piece or screw 33 and the rearward end oi the take-down piece 3|, whereby the take-down piece is at all times urged forwardly with suiiicient force to properly engage the barrel lug stud 24 and hold the magazine tube and barrel in rigid assembly.

Means are provided for co-operating with the novel take-down mechanism heretofore described for insuring the proper positioning of the barrel With respect to both the receiver and the magazine including the take-down devices. As heretofore stated, the barrel is provided with an interrupted thread which engages a corresponding interrupted thread in the receiver. VIt is important that all of the threads be engaged both to secure a mechanical connection of the proper strength and to place the barrel lug and parts carried thereby in the correct position for engagement with the take-down piece. For this purpose, a small lug 36 is secured to the barrel in a location such that when the barrel is inserted to the correct position in the receiver said lug stands immediately behind the magazine yoke piece 36| in which the barrel lies. When the barrel is turned to the position in which the interrupted threads are disengaged, the lug 33 lies above the end of yoke 36|, so that the barrel may be drawn forward. However, in assembly the barrel must be fully inserted in the receiver to bring the lug 35 back of yoke 36| and permit rotation of the barrel. Such rotation isstopped when the barrel reaches its correct angular position with the interrupted threads fully engaged and stud 24 on the barrel lug is in alignment with the take-down piece 3| by the engagement of a shoulder 38 on the barrel lug 23 with the margin of a cut-out 31 in the magazine plug 26. It is thus impossible to assemble the gun without having the barrel fully entered in the receiver, and the rotation of the barrel to its assembled position is facilitated by the provision of a positive stop for the barrel when in this position.

In order to take down the gun, the take-down piece is retracted by rotation of the nut 28, which rotation retracts the magazine plug 26, the internal shoulders 26| thereof engaging the corresponding shoulders of the take-down piece 3| and retracting said piece against the compression of spring 35.

In assembly, the barrel is inserted in the receiver until the lug 36 clears the yoke 36| and is then rotated, engaging the interrupted threads on barrel and receiver, until the shoulder 38 engages the margin of cut-out 3l. The takedown piece is then permitted to advance by reversely rotating the nut 28 and thereby advancing the magazine plug 25, but the take-down piece is not directly connected with the magazine plug and only advances under the force of spring 35. As the barrel becomes heated and expands under continuous firing, the spring 35 automatically advances the take-down piece, maintaining a4 substantially constant pressure against the barrel lug stud at all times.

Should the-Y spring 35 be broken, or for any other reason fail to thrust the take-down piece 3| forwardV in the manner described, the gun can nevertheless besecurely and operatively assembled. In this condition, as the magazine plug advances the spring pilot 32 will be pushed backwardly until it engages a spring pilot 34. The pilots are of such length. that when this occurs the cylindrical projection 242 on the barrel lug stud 24| is securely engaged within the cylindrical aperture provided therefor in the takedown piece 3|, and thus the parts are securely held in their proper relative positions.

It is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many other forms than the illustrative one herein described, all of which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a take-down rearm comprising a barrel assembly and a stock assembly comprising a rigidly secured magazine tube, joining means whereby relative rotation of said assemblies ypermits their separation, securing means for preventing such relative rotation, means constantly urging said securing means toward effective position, and means for retracting said securing means against the force of said urging means comprising a member mounted for rotation relative to said securing means.

2. In a firearm comprising a barrel and a magazine tube located in substantial alignment with said barrel; means for `securing said magazine tube to Ysaid barrel comprising a slidable member associated with said magazine tube, a take-down piece controlled by said slidable member, means associated with saidvbarrel adapted to be engaged by said take-down piece, and means constantly urging said take-down piece into engagement with said barrel means.

3. In a firearm comprising a barrel and a magazine tube adapted to be held in parallel spaced relation; means for securing said magazine tube to said barrel comprising a take-down piece associated with said magazine tube, means associated with said barrel adapted for engagement by said take-down piece, means constantly urging said take-down piece into engagement with said barrel means, and means comprising a manipulative device rotatably held on said magazine tube for retracting said take-down piece from engagement with said barrel means. Y

4. In a. firearm comprising a barrel and a magazine tube adapted to be held in parallel spaced relation to -said barrel; means for securing said barrel to said magazine tube comprising a. magazine plug arranged for longitudinal movement With respect to said magazine, a take-down piece arranged for longitudinal movement with respect to said magazine plug, means constantly urging said take-down piece forward with respect to said magazine plug, co-operating means on said take-down piece and said magazine plug whereby said take-down piece is retracted upon a retracting movement of said magazine plug, means mounted and rotatable upon said magazine for retracting and advancing said magazine plug, and means associated with said barrel adapted for engagement by said take-down piece.

5. In a firearm, a magazine assembly, a receiver and a barrel adapted to be secured to said receiver by rotation relative thereto, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly preventing rotation of said barrel until correctly positioned with respect to said receiver, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly for limiting the rotation of said barrel relative to said receiver, and devices comprising a spring-pressed plunger for securing the barrel in the position in which it is stopped by said second means.

6. In a firearm, a magazine assembly, a receiver and a barrel adapted toi be inserted in said receiver and thereafter rotated to secure it in said receiver, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly for preventing rotation of said barrel until fully inserted in said receiver, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly for limiting the rotation of said barrel relative to said receiver, and devices comprising a spring-pressed plunger for securing the barrel in the position in which it is stopped by said second means.

7. In a firearm, a magazine assembly, a receiver and a barrel adapted to be secured to said receiver by rotation relative thereto, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly preventing rotation of said barrel until correctly positioned with respect to said receiver, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly for limiting the rotation of said barrel rel-v ative to said receiver, devices for securing said magazine assembly to said barrel comprising a slidable member associated with said magazine assembly, a take-down piece associated with said slidable member, means associated with said bar'- rel adapted to be engaged by said take-down piece,

and means constantly urging said take-down piece into engagement with said barrel means.

8. In a firearm, a magazine assembly, a 'receiver and a barrel adapted to be secured to said receiver by rotation relative thereto, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly preventing rotation of said barrel until correctly positioned with respect toI said receiver, co-operating means on said barrel and magazine assembly for limiting the rotation of said barrel relative to said receiver, devices for securing said magazine assembly to said barrel comprising a take-down piece associated with said magazine assembly, means associated with said barrel adapted for engagement by said take-down piece, means constantly urging said take-down piece into engagement with said barrel means, and means associated with said magazine assembly for retracting said take-down piece from engagement With said barrel means.

9. In a firearm comprisinga barrel and a magazine tube, means for'removably securing said magazine tube to said barrel comprising a. takedown piece associated With said magazine tube, means on said barrel co-operating with said'takedown piece, and means for retracting said takedown piece from said barrel means comprising a member rotatably mounted on said magazine tube and vhaving a threaded engagement With said take-down piece for effecting translation thereof.

10. In a firearm comprising a barrel and a magazine tube, means for removably securing said magazine tube to said barrel comprising a takedoWn piece slidably and non-rotatably supported in said magazine tube, means on said barrel cooperating With said take-down piece, means for retracting said take-down piece from said barrel means comprising a member mounted for rotation but not translation on said magazine tube, and connections whereby rotation of said member eiects translation of said take-down'piece relative to said magazine tube.

11. In a rearm comprising a barrel and a magazine tube, means for removably securing said a,

magazine tube to said barrel comprising a plug slidably held in said magazine tube, a finger piece rotatably held on said magazine tube and having a threaded engagement with said plug, a takedown piece slidably held in said plug, and means associated with said barrel cio-operating With said take-down piece. Y

CRAWFORD C. LOOMIS. 

